Work for 3, 4 units in Kudankulam to begin in April 2016

Thiruvannamalai: The first phase of the work for setting up the third and fourth units of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project would begin in April 2016.

"Next year in April-May the first phase of the work will begin. After that work for fifth and sixth units will begin. The setting up of third and fourth units will begin adjacent to the existing two units itself", KNPP Station Director R S Sundar said here on the the sidelines of a function.

India and Russia had signed an agreement for building units three and four of the KNPP at a cost of Rs 33,000 crore.

To a query whether there was enough land available, he said "We have enough land available for setting up all the six units at the existing place itself".

The first 1000 MWe unit at the Indo-Russian joint venture, which faced prolonged protests from anti-nuclear activists, commenced its commercial operations in December last year.

The second 1,000 MWe unit has got clearance for the hot run from Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and currently undergoing "hot run" (releasing of steam into atmosphere).